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THE 

LIFE AND HISTORY 



OP 



WILLIAM DENNING 




THE - REYOLDTIONARY ■ HERO, 



BY J. W. STROHM. 
FOR SALE BY THE PUBLISHER AND AGENTS. 



1890. 



nkwville, pa. 
times steam print, 
[copyrighted.] 1890. 




G. W. LANDIS, 

PRACTICAL WATCHMAKER, 

One door west of Bank, Newville Pa 

A Full Assortment of Fine 

Watches, Clocks, 

i Jewelry, Silver and Plated 
Table Ware, Spectacles 
and Eye Glasses in Gold, 

©il^cp ar)d ©feci, Gspc|u11j^ Rifled. 

ALL GOODS AT LOWEST PRICES, 

^atcl^es ai^d Clocks f^epaircd 

AND WARRANTED FOR ONE YEAR. 

old gold and silver bought or taken in 
exchange for goods. 

(of newville, pa.) 

This Bank organized under the National Banking Law, and 
opened for business on August, 18, 1863. It is prepared to 
transact a general banking. Exchange and Collection Busi- 




Drafts on New York and Philadelphia, can always be fur- 
nished at the very lowest rates of exchange. 
Collections will be made in all accessible points in the Unit- 
ed States. 
Careful and pronftpt attention will be given to all business 

entrusted to its care. 
Banking House on RailroacJ Street. 

Bank opens at 9 a. m. : Closes at 3 p. m. 

J. B. DAVIDSON, Cashier. 
JAMES McKEEHAN, President. 

Read a Live Paper. 

The Newville Times, only $1.00 a year. 



THE 

LIFE AND HISTORY 



OP 



WILLIAM DENNING 



WHO CAST THE FIRST 



WROUGHT-IRON CANNON 



For the American Army 
at the outbreak of 



THE - REVOLUTIONARY ■ WAR. 



BY J. W. STROHM, 



FOR SALE BY THE PUBLISHER AND AGENTS. 



1890, 



J^'-d, 



Cloverdale, 
Lithiia Water, 

NATURE'S HEALTH EESTORER. 

Is absolutely pure, clear and sparkling. 

Is a cure for kidney and liver complaints, dyspepsia rlieuma- 

tism, gout, gravel, urinary troubles, &c. 
Is a solvent for stone in the bladder. 
Is a specific for uric acid in the blood. 
Is suitable for the most delicate stomach. 
Is a mild aperient. Is without taste or smell. 
Is a delicious table water. 

SPRING LOCATED NEAR NEWVILLE, CUNIB. CO., PA. 



Special Notice. 



The Cloverdale Lithia Water Company is engaged exclu- 
sively in the shipment and sale of Lithia Water. It is intend - 
ed however, in the near future, to erect a large and commo- 
dious hotel at the Spring for the reception of guests. For the 
present visitors can be accommodated during the Summer 
months, at Cloverdale Cottage, near the Spring. For rates etc., 
address, , M. E. MIDDLETON, 

*'. ' NEWVIL-LE, PA, 

^ J*r ^^^^^^^ ^==: '^ 

Price of Water. 



This water is put up in cases of one dozen full half -gallon 
bottles, and delivered at the Cumberland Valley Railroad 
Station, at Newville. Price per case, S5.00. 

A special discount to dealers. Address all orders and let- 
ters to 

The Cloverdale Lithia Water Co.. 

3Iaiii Office, No. 9 I\'ortli 3rrt Street, 
P. O. Box g. HAKRISBUKG, PA, 



INTRODUCTORY. 

History has been very kind to great soldiers and warriors. 
Its pages have been filled for the most part with b«Atles which 
decided the fate of nations, and with the deeds of heroes whose 
garments were rolled in the blood of thousands of their fellow 
men. Blood and slaughter, rapine and destruction have al- 
ways had a strange fascination for ma\ikind. Lurid frescoes 
drawn and painted by sword and fire have fixed the gaze of 
the ages. Out from the gloomy clouds of war and battle, 
like stars out of a cloudy sky, flash here and there the names 
of a few, the magnitude of whose deeds have made them im- 
mortal, but oblivion has covered as with a mantle the lives 
and labors of many humbler and worthier men. It is always 
commendable to rescue from forgetfulness the memory of 
those who by reason of superior mechanical genius, first prac- 
tically accomplished what had hitherto only floated as misty 
dreams in the brain of theorists. Such is the object of this 
little book. Ever since the death of William Denning, occa- 
sional efforts have been made to do justice to his memory, 
but besides a few brief newspaper articles and an attempt to' 
create a memorial fund, nothing was effected until by leo-is- 
lative enactment and appropriation, a beautiful monument 
lias been erected to his memory. What is known of the life 
of this man ought to be written. To him belongs the honor 
of having successfully made the first uTought-iron cannon 
ever used in war. Out of the misty shadows of the past, 
from the living lips of those who knew the man; from men 
and women, from letters and from tradition, have been gath- 
ered with much labor this humble contribution to the mem- 
ory of a worthy man. 



SPECIAL NOTE. 

The proposed project of having a sketch of the life and his- 
tory of William Denning printed, was only fully decided on 
the 7th day of October. At that time a small amount of his 
life's history was in our possession, and as the time was limit- 
ed for placing the sketch on the market, it required consider- 
able work to find persons who could give us any sure history 
concerning him. Those who claimed to know, got a greater 
portion of their knowledge handed down to them from older 
residents, and the accounts were meager. The items herein 
printed were gathered from a number of sources, and consum- 
ed considerable time. Personally, the writer knew nothing 
relating to many of the incidents recorded, but to those who 
so kindly gave their aid in helping to gather the desired in- 
formation, we are indeed thankful. While it may be possi- 
ble that some may differ in a small way as to certain inci- 
dents, we are willing to place the short sketch before the pub- 
lic with the knowledge that under the pressing circumstances 
we did all in our power to gain every available incident 
relating to William Denning, who, although a common black- 
smith, came into prominence only in late years of his life, 
and about whose record, during his childhood days, nothing 
is known, at least by any one with whom the vsrriter came in 
contact. However, this book, is the first and only full sketch 
of his life; at least so far as can be learned by diligent inquiry 
from those who would reasonably be supposed to know. It 
however proves beyond any controversy, that the facts herein 
contained, which were gotten from the lips of our oldest per- 
sons, whose names are embodied in this work, can not be 
gainsaid, so that it is about as complete a history of his life, 
that can be had. The Publisher. 




c®i=C=^ — • 



'^l 



Pi 



The Revolutionary Hero 



THE ULST RESTING PLACE OF A REVOLUTION- 
ARY HERO. 



He Made Cannon for tlie American Forces — A Monu- 
ment at last Erected over His Grave. 

-"• ^=^ ^^^p<^^^ m : •'^ 

Under a massive monument of granite in 
the Presbyterian Cemetery at Newviilo, lie the 
remains of William Denning, a Revolutionary 
hero. At the commencement of the Revolution- 
ary War, Denning resided in Chester County, 
where he enlisted in a company of which he was 
second Lieutenant. He was a gallant soldiei and 
for nine months shared the privations and hard- 
ships of 1776. He was with General Washington 
at Trenton and Princeton. Mr. Denning, repeat- 



LIFE OF WILLIAM DENNING. 



edly spoke of the hardships, he, with the rest of 
Washington's soldiers endured, and his counte- 
nance showed to his hearers, that be spoke with 
the same earnestness which charcterized all his 
conversation, more especially so, when referring 
to incidents relating^ to engagements in which h e 
participated during those dark days of 1776, when 
our beautiful land was besieged by the British and 
when true, brave men left their homes to fight for 
right. It is also stated that tears came to the eyes 
of his hearers in later years when he related how 
despondent the American people were at stated 
times, when the British gained a v'ctory, but con- 
fidence, he says was greatly restored in the heart 
of the soldier by the noble commander, George 
Washington, who, although suffering for the act- 
ual need of lifes necessaries, scarcely murmured. 
Many a soldier here learned a lesson which in a^" 
ter years proved a blessing. His description of 

THE BATTLE OF TRENTON 

and its awful hardships, is told with the same 
enthusiasm that charcterized his former talks. 
"Such a night as Christmas, 1776, was enough 
to cause our hearts to fail us as we went forward 
in the midst of storm and sleet, arridst drifting ice, 
and in boats which any moment might be crushed. 
Thus the Delaware was crossed, with twenty-four 
hundred picked men, captured one thousand Hes- 
sians, in the midst of their festivities, slew their 



LIFE OF WILLIAM DENNING. 



leader and escaped back to camp, having lost 
only four men— two killed and two frozen to death'. 
Oh ! how the brave, yet almost perished soldiers 
rejoiced, and how their once dampened patriot- 
ism kindled anew. His remembrances, so far as 
can be learned from our oldest residents in regard 
to the 

BATTLE OF PRINCETON, 
on January, 3, 1777, are in unison with the histor = 
ical writers. Being jubilant over their great vic- 
tory at Trenton, they were not expecting any re- 
verses so soon, but when Cornwallis confronted 
them at Princeton, they felt their position keenly, 
but in his own words '-George Washington out- 
generaled them," took two hundred prisoners and 
escaped. The precise date w^e cannot learn when 

DENNING LEFT THE ARMY, 
but he kept himself well posted in regard to the 
movements of General Washincrton and the Brit- 
ish. and it is said that he could relate with peculiar 
exactness, the transactions of the war as it pro- 
gressed. Always in referring to those days, he 
said his heart and mind were with General Wash- 
ington. In his estimation, there was no man then 
living, who could in any way compare with the 
brave and christian Washino-ton. 

o 

IN HIS LAST YEARS, 

his chief delight was- to talk of the Revolutionary 
days, and for hours, would he discuss the various 



LIFE OF WILLIAM DENNING. 



situations in which he, as a soldier often found 
himself. Young people during the last few years 
of his life, would visit his home or his smith shop 
and engage him in conversation, but, as only 
memory was depended on, much has been forgot- 
ten and there is no means now by which to 
gain a great amount o* matter concerning him, 

HIS GREAT LOVE 
for the cause was uppermost in his mind, and he 
was daily devising plans by which he could aid 
the American army, and this led him to perform 
the act which has won for him a high and honor- 
ed position in the minds of Pennsylvania people, 
and caused to be erected over his remains, a mon- 
ument of Barre Granite, which is fully described 
later on in this book. 

Before supplies were obtained from France in 
ly^S, great difficulties were experienced in find- 
ing arms and ammunition for the American troops. 
The men needful for the war were easier far to 
raise than the necessary equipments. In the be- 
ginning of the great conflict which resulted in 
America's breaking the yoke of British tyranny, 
shops lor the manufacture of rifles, muskets and 
cannons, were established in every available town. 
Old arms w^ere altered and repaired so that they 
could be used for deadlier purposes. Bayonets 
were made and armories were established in Ship- 
pensburg and Carlisle, at which places hundreds 
of rifles were got into readiness. 



LIFE OF WILLIAM DENNING. 



THE CANNON MAKER. 

Denning learned the blacksmith trade when a 
vourg man, and from childhood displayed a re- 
markable mechanical talent, chief among his 
mechanism being articles made from iron. His 
ingenious and inventive traits were the cause of his 
being placed at the head of a company ot artificers 
at Philadelphia,. Here his ingenious powers had 
better sway and he made valuable use of the op- 
portunity thus afforded him. On the approach of 
the British to occupy that city, he was removed to 
Carlisle,, and Mt. Holly. At that time the South 
Mountain abounded with iron, and with Mr. Den- 
ning's aid and under his supervision, the iron was 
manufactured into bayonets, gun-barrels, cannons 
&c. The necessary appliances were not then in 
the hands of these makers of weapons of defense 
and it was some time before he could find persons 
who could be induced to assist him on account of 
the intense heat to be endured in the welding of 
the heavy bars of iron for bands and hoops. 
He however persisted in accomplishing the task 
began and working faithfully, he surmounted 
man}^ difficulties, for which many others would 
have abandoned the enterprise, and by so doing, 
he constructed cannon of such uniform quality, 
and of such size and calibre, as to have done good 
service in the American army. 

DENNING'S CANNONS. 

The pieces made by this patriotic blacksmith 



10 LIFE OF WILLIAM DENNING. 



were generally four or six pounders, but the last 
attempt was upon a twelve pounder, which was 
left unfinished. Two were sent to Pittsburg, and 
others distributed where they were most needed. 
A second one it is said, was in use at the Carlisle 
Barracks, some fifty years ago, but all trace of it 
has been lost. *One of them was believed to have 
been taken by the British at the battle of Brandy- 
wine and kept as a trophy in the Tower ot Lon- 
don. 

* Robert T. Lincoln, Minister to England, in visiting the 
Tower of London, failed to discover any trace of the cannon 
referred to, and wrote Governor Beaver of this State, to that 
effect. That settles the idea which has been generally sup' 
posed to have been true. 

After the Revolutionary War was over, Wil- 
liam Denning, moved from Mt. Holly, to fGreen 
Spring. From the lips of James M. Harlan, a 
man of 72 years, residing on West Main street, 
v^e learn that William Denning was probably in- 
duced to locate at Green v^pring from the fact that 
*Ludwi£r Mirer, a Revolulionarv soldier of con- 
siderable note, resided there. Denning lived in 
in his tenant house, and the 

tSee page 12 for explanation. 

*Ludwig Miller was a Revolutionaiy soldier, and belonged 
to Captain Megaw's regiment. He was taken prisoner at 
Fort Washington, by the Hessians, and he frequently related 
to William Denning and his neighbors, what torture he en- 
dured and how near starvations door he was. Ludwig Miller, 
was the grandfather of Mrs. Edwin James, dec'd. His re- 
mains lie in the Zion Cemetery in Hopewell township. The 
date on his tombstone is, died Jan. 26, 1836, aged 81 years. 



LtFfi OF WILLIAM DENNING. 11 

BLACKSMITH SHOP, 
near the spot on which the Bulls Head Hotel stood, 
(now a private dwelling,) although erected by 
Denning, belonged to Miller. But little informa- 
tion can be learned of him during his stay there, 
and some 3^ears later, he moved with his son 
James and daughter Polly, to Mifflin township, 
near Scouller's Mill, where he resided in a little 
log house. His ancestors, so far as can be learn- 
ed, were poor, and the subject himself, never gain- 
ed any special headway financially. He was 
looked upon as a great genius in those days, by 
the general public. Of his wife, nothing is 
known, she having died some time before he came 
to this neighborhood. 

Old residents can only speak of the subject, his 
son James and daughter Polly, who are buried 
side by side, joining his grave in the 

PRESBYTERIAN GRAVEYARD. 
Rev. J. B, Scouller, D. D., gives an account 
later on of the family. WiJiam Denning's health 
remained good until within a short time before his 
death and he retained his mental faculties until the 
last moments of his life. His death occurred on 

DECEMBER, 19, 1830, 
and he was buried wnth the honors of war. Here 
again it is claimed by responsible persons, that a 
cannon constructed by him, was used on this par- 
ticular occasion. 



12 LIFE OF WILLIx\M DENNING. 

William Denning, although he was known as a 
determined person, and paid strict attention to 
business, would occasionally, in company with 
his son James, get on a spree. He is described to 
us as being a man of about 5 feet 8 inches in 
height, and quite stooped in posture. This de- 
scription is given, as his general appearance, from 
his ninetieth year, until his death, four years later. 

tThat William Denning, first located at Green Spring, in- 
firmly established as will be proven by the conversation with 
Miss Jane McWilliams, a lady of 77 years who resides on 
Corporation street in Newville, and by Mr. James M. Harlan, 
on West Main street, who at that time lived about one-half 
mile from the location of Mr. Denning' s blacksmith shop. 
This explodes the idea that he settled in Mifflin township and 
lived there all the time. 



LIFE OF WILLIAM DENNING. 



13 




Reminiscences Of Persons 

WHO KNEW OF 

THE DENNING FAMILY. 



mu^^^^^^^ 



The following extract is taken from a letter by 
Rev. James B. Scouller, D. D., of Newville, Pa. 

^'William Denning, died at the mouth of the 
Back Run, in Mifflin township, December, 19th, 
1830, aged 94 years. His son James, a soldier of 
the war of 1812, died two or three years alterward 
and was buried in Newville, with the honors of 
war. His daughter Polly, only surviving child, 
after James' death, lived for a year or so, in the 
old house at ScouUer's Mill : then moved to New- 



14 LIFE OF WILLIAM DENNING. 



ville, and I .-juppose died there. From my recol- 
lection, quite a fuss was made at James' death and 
that an old cannon was brought to do the honprs 
of war." 



Mifflin Township, Oct. 3, 1890. 

My recollections ot William Denning, theblacl<- 
smith, who made wroucjht-iron cannon, for Gen- 
eral Washington's Army, during the Revolution- 
ary war, are, that he died in the fall of 1830, at 
the mouth of the Back Run, on the Connodoguin- 
et Creek, near Scoullers Mill, and within a mile of 
Cloverdale Lithia Springs. Mr. Dinning worked 
atblacksmithing. I was about 19 years of age 
at the time of his death. In company with m}- 
father I w^as frequently at Mr. Denning's smith 
shop He frequently related to my father, his 
experience in wrought-iron cannon making and 
the great amount of heat he had to endure. 

Robert Lusk. 



Mr. Denning, was a near neighbor of Robert 
Middleton, Esq., who died some twety-two years 
ago, and he told the writer that Mr. Denning 
told him, he could make wrought-iron cannon to 
shoot a six pound ball without much trouble, but 
in attempting to make a twelve pounder, the heat 
was so great that it melted the lead buttons on his 
coat and he abandoned the attempt. 

W. A. Middleton. 



LIFE OF WILLIAM DENNING. 15 

A writer of the Valley Star, in its issue of 
January, 6th, 1859, which was the sixth week of 
the wStar's existence, with J, M. Miller, as editor, 
says .• 

*' When the news of that tyrannical act of Great 
Britain, which closed the port of Boston, reached 
this county, a meeting^ was called in Carlisle, 
July 12, 1774, ^^^ attended by delegates from the 
ditferent townships ; a committee was appointed 
to correspond with the provincial committee on all 
other matters appertaining to the rights and safety 
of the American Colonies. Wm. Thompson one 
of this committee was from this vicinit}^. 

Although the inhabitants of this vicinity were 
far removed from the dangers of war, having noth- 
ing to fear from Br'tish arms on account o.^ their 
isolated position ; yet prompted by that spirit that 
ever characterized the "Sires of 76," they respond- 
ed cheerfully to the call of Continental Congress 
for men and money. Several from vicinity were 
engaged in the battle of Brand} wine, 

The services of but one of the man-gods who 
marched from this country to defend the rights of 
their Common Country, occupy the place on the 
pages of Revolutionary history. The records of 
some of their names can be found in the grave 
yards of this place. 

Among those who s erved in the continental 
Army, and now nearly forgotten, was William 
Denning ; no stone marks his resting place. An 



16 LIFE OF WILLIAM DENNING. 



attempt was made a year or two ago to erect a 
suitable monument to his memory ; we riave heard 
nothmg of it of late. We suppose nothing will be 
done. Congress is too poor to appropriate a few 
dollars for a monument to perpetuate the memory 
of this heroic blacksmith of Brandy wine, choosing 
rather to rob the treasury for their own personal 
agrandizement, and for the support of the Gamb- 
ling Hells of Pennsylvania Avenue. 

We take the following obituary on the death of 
William Denning, from Hazard's Register, vol. 7. 
*'Died on Sunday, May 19th, 1832, at his resi- 
dence iu Mifflin township, Cumberland County, 
Pa., ^William. Denning, in the 94th year of his 
age. The deceased was an artificer in the army 
of the Revolution. He it was, who in the days of 
his country's need, made the only successful at- 
tempt ever made in the w^orld to manufacture 
wrought-iron cannon > one of which was completed 
at Middlesex, this county, and commenced 
another and larger one at Mt. Holly, but could 
get no one to assist him who could stand the heat, 

*That the date above referred to, is an error, we have only 
to refer to the fact that he was born in 1736, and died in 1830 
at the age of 94 years. Rev. J. B. Scouller, D. D., and James 
M. Harlan, corroborate the statement, that he died on Decem- 
ber 19, 1830. The date as given in Hazard's Register, is that 
of the death of James Denning. This fact is more fully es- 
tablished later on in this work, by Miss Jane McWilliams, in 
which a complete history is given, together with the places 
a nd year, in which both James and Polly died. 



LIFE OF WILLIAM DENNING. l'^ 



which was so great that it melted the lead buttons 

on his coat. 

This unfinished piece it is said, lies as he left it, 
at the Carlisle Barracks, or Holly Forge. fOne 
of these completed was taken by the British at 
the Battle of Brandy wine, and is now in the Tow- 
er of London. (See fine print, page lo.) 

The British government offered a large sum 
and a stated annuity, to the person who would in- 
struct them in the manufacture of that article ; but 
the patriotic blacksmith preferred obscurity and 
poverty in his own beloved country, to wealth and 
affluence in that of her oppressors ; although that 
country for which he did so much, kept her purse 
closed from the veteran soldier till near the close 
of his long life — and it often required the whole 
weight of his well-known character for honesty, 
to save him from the severest pangs of poverty. 
When such characters as the deceased are ne- 
glected by a rich government, it is no wonder that 
people think Republics ungrateful. The strength 
of his good constitution continued till near his last, 
and he was able to walk to the village of 
Newville, two miles from his residence until about 
six months before his decease. 

This same William Denning, is Lippard's ''Me- 
chanic Hero of Brandywine," part of which is 
speculation ; but tlie story is a beautiful one, and 
will repay a perusal, it is to be found in Blanch of 
Brandywine, by George Lippard." 



18 LIFE OF WILLIAM DENNING. 

Before William Denning joined the ranks in 
Pennsylvania, he was in the New Jersey ranks 
and he finally got to this State, in Chester county. 
From there he entered under Washington, be- 
came a member ol Worsley Ernes' regiment, and 
received his discharge at Carlisle, in 1783, when 
the treaty of peace was proclaimed. 

The idea of doing something to secure funds 
for the erection of a monument 

TO MARK DENNING'S GRAVE, 
was duly considered as far back as 1859. ^^ 
that tim.e the plan of holding exhibitions w?s 
thought to be the proper thmg, and accordingly, 
the young men of those days, began the arduous 
task, and with what success, we will now set forth. 
On Saturday evening, January ist, 1859, Liter- 
ary Hall was crowded to overflowing, to witness 
the performance of the Independent Club, on the 
occasion of their second exhibition. Both enter- 
tainments were successful, but the spirit in the 
work lo}t brillimcy, a i.l nuinbers of 

the Association, who yet reside in Newville, say, 
that no more attempts were made in the same line. 
Thus the matter dropped, although it was urged 
at the time, to hold another concert on Februar}- 
22, 1859, in honor of the fact, that General Wash- 
ington, and William Denning, were intimate per- 
sonal friends. It also appears that prior to 1859, 
movements were instituted for the same purpose 
but no headway was made until the Independent 



LIFE OF WILLIAM DENNING. 19 

Club took the affair in charge. James McKee- 
han, now a resident of Newville, acted as treas- 
urer for the Club, An order for the money left 
over from these concerts, was drawn up and pre- 
sented to the treasurer; the money was paid over, 
and beyond that, nothincr is known as to what use 
it was put. 

During the life of the Club, Denning's grave 
was pointed out by Sarah McWilliams, dec'd, 
mother of Miss Jane McWilliams. She went to 
the spot, and who could know better than she, 
since Mr. John McWilliams, her husband had 
been sexton of the cemetery for many years, and 
both the father and mother were present at his 
burial. However, it was Thomas Wilt, father of 
Alexander and Joseph Wilt, who buried the fath- 
er, son and daughter. Mr. Ed. W. Eby, then a 
boy of 17 years, in company with several other 
young men, carried stone and piled them on the 
grave. 

It might be well to state, so far as we know, 
who were members of the Independent Club. 
Among them, we learn the names of Dr. J. C. 
Claudy, Jacob Claudy, W. R. Linn, dec'd, 
Hon. J. J, Herron, dec'd, James McReehan, Dar- 
by McWilliams, dec'd, E. W. Eby, Charles 
Householder, Sr., J. B. Morrow, J. Bell Johnson, 
dec'd, and David Gilmore. 

James S. Eckels, of Princeton, Illinois, some- 
time about 1850, made a lens^thy and spirited 



20 LIFE OF WILLIAM DENNING. 



speech in the Hall, in which he urged that some- 
thing be done towards erecting a monument to the 
Revolutionary hero. The affair only assumed 
shape in 1859, ^s previously stated. 

To return to the subject before us, we learn that 
he lived but a few years in Mifflin township, in a 
little log house. The engraving here shown, 




THE HOUSE IN MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP, IN WHICH WILLIAM DEN- 
NING, LIVED AND DIED. 

was drawn from a description given us, and we 
had it engraved for the present purpose. This is 
said to be a fair representation of the house in 
which he with his two children lived during his 
stay in Mifflin township. After the father's 
death, Polly Denning, sold the house to Robert 
Middleton, Esq. It has since been owned by 
Wm. Geese, George Asper, Sr., John McFaight, 
and Wm. Long, but is now owned by J. Harper 
Snyder, of Newville. The first survey for the 
South Penn railroad, passed directly through the 
house. For many years it stood as it was origi- 



LIFE OF WILLIAM DENNING. 21 

nally built, but later on, it was remodeled and fi- 
nally almost razed to the ground, but the same old 
material is there, used in the construction of an 
annex. Frederick Sprout, is the present resident. 
In reference to 

JAMES DENNING, 
the publisher has more direct knowledge, and also 
relative to Polly, the daughter. We cite Miss 
Jane Mc Williams, as the proof of what follows in 
regard to ihe life and death of the last two sub- 
jects. Miss Jane Mc Williams, is a daughter of 
John and Sarah McWilliams, dec'd, and resides 
on Corporation Street, within one hundred feet of 
the old hotel, in which James Denning died. She 
has reached the age of 77 years, and has a bright 
recollection of happenings in the past years. Her 
personal knowledge of James JDenning, is that he 
was quite tall, of a jocular nature, and occasionally 
got on a long spree. After his father's death, he 
spent the greater part of his time in town with his 
associates, of whom he had a number. Appar- 
ently he lost all taste for the blacksmith trade, pre- 
ferring rather to be in town. His career was, 
however, of short duration, and his death occur- 
red very suddenly on 

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 1832, 

tAn incident related by several old residents, is, that some 
of Newville's young generation placed a dead horse against 
the door of John McWilliams' log house on Main street, and 
that James Denning composed a song to suit the occasion. 



22 LIFE OF WILLIAM DENNING. 

at James Reeder's hotel on Corporation street, 
Newville, Pa. The house is yet standing, and 
is occupied by Mr. Jacob Boyles. 

When James Denning was buried beside his 
father, who died in 1830, somewhat of a demon- 
stration was made. It must be remembered that 
James was a soldier of 181 2, and, like his father, 
was ever ready to relate reminiscences of 1812, 
more especially so, when under the influence of 
drink. While it is sad to relate that he imbibed, 
it roust not be understood, that he was a confirmee] 
sot. Such is really not the case. He had many 
friends, w^ho were drawn about him by his fun 
making propensities. Referring to the 

LIFE OF POLLY DENNING, 
we learn from the same reliable source, that she 
retained the old homestead for several years, and 
then sold it to Robert Middleton. Nevertheless, 
she remained in Mifflin township, and only came 
to town to aid certain families with house work. 
Among these neighbors, was Mrs. Sarah McWil- 
liams, whose husband was sexton at the Big 
Spring Presbyterian Church. She, at thi.-j time, 
prepared the Communion Service, and continued 
to do so, for many years, after w'hich her daugh- 
ter Jane, took upon herself the task, and continu- 
ed, until a short time ago, only relinquishing the 
act on account of failing health. 

At Mrs. Sarah McWilliams' home, Polly Den- 
nincf ofte n came and aided her in the prepara- 



LIFE OF WILLIAM DENNING. 23 



tion as above described. It was during one of 
these preparations in the fall of 1835, that Polly 
came to aid her, and complained of feeling sick. 
She was placed in bed, and a physician sent for. 
She grew worse, and in ten days, was a corpse. 
The Big Spring Presbx terian church, lifted a col- 
lection for defray in^r the expenses of her burial, 
and also to re-imburse Sarah McWilliams for her 
care, during Polly's sickness. Rev. Robert 
M'Cachran, dec'd, father of Robert M'Cachran, 
Jr., at present an Attorney of Newville, Pa., was 
the; minister who called to see Polly during her 
illness, in the log house on West Main street. She 
lies beside her father and brother, Polly Den- 
ning was short of stature, and although a full fac- 
ed person, did not enjo}^ perfect health. Her dis- 
position was to be kind and obliging, and this 
won for her, many friends. Indeed it is said that 
she was a most welc-me visitor everywhere. This 
caused her to be in NewviFe, the greater portion 
of her time, and gave rise to the opinon that James 
and Polly moved to Newville, to reside. There 
seems to have been no money left from the sale of 
the old homestead in Mifflin township. 

The only articles known to be in existence, 
which were owned by Polly Denning, is a fire 
shovel, now in the possession of Joseph McDer- 
mond, Sr.. in Mifflin township, and PolF, 's sad 
irons, in the possession of Mrs. Margaretfa Gal- 
braith, a sister of Jane McWilliams, who resides 
in Lexington, Ohio. 



24 LIFE OF WILLIAM DENNING. 

The home in which Polly Denning died, and 
which John and Sarah McWilliams owned, was 
situated on the South side of West Main street, 
on the lots now owned by the Davidson's and 
Hartzell's. The house was log, and stood par- 
allel with the street, the entrance being at the 
West end, and two windows on the side towards 
the street. 

The old log house and lot was purchased by 
John Bricker, father of George M. Bricker, living 
on Parsorage street. So near as we can learn, 
a portion of the house stood where the large pine 
-tree now grows, in C. D. Hartzell's yard, at the 
east end of his house. 



LIFE OF WILLIAM DENNING. 25 



HOW THE 
APPROPRIATION 

^VJs^S SEOXJRED. 

To have a suitable tablet placed over this man's 
grave, was, within the past two years, firmly de- 
cided on. About the first earnest work, was the 
appearance of W. A. Middleton among our town 
people, asking for signatures. His time was OC* 
cupied chiefly in Harrisburg, and the paper was 
left in the hai^s of B. F. Shulenberger, to solicit 
more names. The names were secured to the 
petition asking the State to appropriate $t,ooo for 
erecting a monument over Denning's grave. The 
petition was placed in the hands of Hon. S. M, 
Wherry, of the House of Representatives, and 
Hon. Willam A. Martin, of the Senate. The bill 
passed, of which the following is an exact copy» 



LIFE OF WILLIAM DENNING. 



NO. 291. 
An Act. 
Making an appropriation for the erection of a suitable tab- 
let or mon\iment to mark the grave of William Denning. 

Section I. Be it enacted, &c., That the sum 
of one thousand dollars be and the same is hereby 
appropriated to erect a tablet or monument to 
mark the grave of William Denning, who con- 
structed wrought-iron cannon for use of the Revo- 
lutionary army. The said sum to be paid to the 
treasurer of the Newville Cemetery Association, 
upon a warrant drawn by the Auditor Gereral 
when the officers of said Association have filed 
with the State Treasurer a certificate under oath, 
that such suitable tablet or monument has been 
erected, an actual cost for said tablet or memor- 
ial of not less than one thousand dollars, and that 
the entire amount of same will, on the payment of 
sum hereby appropriated, be fully paid and sat- 
isfied. 

Approved— the 24th day of May, A. D. 1889, 

upon the express condition that the design of the 
monument be approved by and the money ex- 
pended under the direction of the Board of Pub- 
lic Grounds and Buildings of the Commonwealth. 

James A. Beaver. 



A number of designs were examined, but the 
present one seemed to please those who had it in 
charge, and the contract was awarded to comrade 
D. J. Shull, of Chamberburg, a noted marble 



LIFE OF WILLIAM DENNING. 27 



worker. The monument was made in Vermont, 
shipped on the i6th day of September, and reach- 
ed Newville on Friday, October 3rd. The weath- 
er being so inclement, it remained at the freight 
depot until the next week, and then hauled to the 
* Presbyterian Cemetery by Thomas J. Campbell. 
Six horses were attached to the wagon. 

The committee to attend to the placing of this 
valuable marker, was composed of Rev. E. Ers- 
kine, D. D., Ex-Senator, S. C. Wagner and Har- 
ry Manning. 

The day for unvailing, was at one time, ex- 
pected to be observed on October 20th, but as that 
time did not suit, it was decided to postpone the 
memorable day until after the Fall election in No- 
vember, and the day was set for Thursday, No- 
vember 6th, 1890, at 2 P. M. 

William H. Egle, Supt. of the Public Library 
at Harrisburg, is to be the historian for the day. 
W. H. Middleton, an attorney from Harrisburg, 
will also be an orator that day. Governor Beaver, 
and the committee on Public Grounds will be 
present. At this writing, great preparations are 
being made lor observing the event in the most 
appropriate manner, but the program will not be 
made out in time for publication in this work. 

^There was great dissatisfaction openly expressed when it 
was learned that the marker was to be placed as above. The 
general public opinion was, for it to be placed on the Dia- 
mond, formed by Railroad and Parsonage streets, where it 
could have been seen by visitors. 



28 LIFE OF WILLIAM DENNING. 



The full page illustration on the opposite page, 
is an exact representation of the Denning monu- 
ment. 

DIMENSIONS OF THE MONUMENT. 

The Stature is of dark Barre Granite, composed 
of four pieces of the following dimensions, mount- 
ed with a cannon pointing toward England. 

Lower base, 7ft. 6in. x 4ft. 6in. and 2iin. high* 
Second base, 6ft. long, 3ft. wide and ift. 4in* 
high. 

The die is 4ft. Sin. wide, ift, loin, thick, and 
5ft. 3in. high. 

The cannon, is 5ft long and iiin.Jn diameter. 
The exact height is 9 feet 2 inches. 
The lower base weighs 5 1-4 tons and the en- 
tire weight is II tons. 

Beside the cannon, four balls are fastened, and 
on the Northern side of the die is a beautiful Me- 
dallion of a blacksmiths forge, in bas relief. 

The four faces of the bottom base are rock fin- 
ish. The second base is fine hammered, and the 
name Wm. Denning is placed there in five inch 
sunk letters. The following inscription is in sunk- 
en letters on the North side of the die. 

Erected by the State of Pennsylvania, 
in memory of 
William Denning, the Patriotic Blacksmith 
and forger of 
Wrou£jht-Iron Cannon 
during the Revolutionary War. 
Born 1737, died 1830. 



LIFE OF WILLIAM DENNING. 



29 




The House on Corporation street in which James Denning 
died on Sunday morning, May 19th, 1832. 




The house on West Main, street in which John and Sarah 
Mc Williams lived, and where Mary (Polly) Denning died, in 

1835. 



This page was intended for cut of the Denning monument, 
but it failed to arrive in time. 



30 



LIFE OF WILLIAM DENNING. 



Comrade Shull, the contractor, was a soldier in 
the late war, a member of the ist Ohio Volunteers, 
and participated in the first battle of Bull Run. 




LIFE OF WILLIAM DENNING. 



31 




APPENDIX. 

George Lippard's article in Blanche of Brandy- 
wine; gives a glowing account of the Heroic Black 
smith of Brandywine, which battle occurred on 
September ii, 1777. There can be no doubt that 
Denning participated in that battle, and since this 
work has been commenced, it has been our fortune 
to secure knowledge from several ?ged persons to 
the effect that upon one occasion, the subject be- 
coming greatly excited, and while explaining a 
portion of the military tactics, he described a scene 
in the Battle of Brandywine, in which he was one 
of the principal actors, 

J, Johnson Herron was the writer of the article 
which begins on page 15 and ends on page 17, 
which he obtained from Hazard's Register, Vol. 7, 



LIFE OF WILLIAM DENNING. 



Robert McWilliaros, of Harrisburg, a local 
preacher in the employ of the P. R. R. Compan}^, 
stated that James Denning informed him that they 
came from England. 

James M. Harlan and his mother, lived in the 
house at Green Spring, after it was vacated by 
William Denning. This gentleman has a remark- 
able memory at his advanced age of 72 years, and 
was a great help in compiling the present history. 
His wife remembers very distinctly of seeing Pol- 
ly Denning, when she was a corpse in the Mc- 
Williams house on Main Street. 

Some time in the sixties, there was an effort 
made by the blacksmiths of this county to meet at 
Carlisle, to organize a plan by which to secure a 
marker, but it never reached a point upon whicn 
an orginazation could be formed. 

THE CORRECT TRACING. 

Through the kindness of Mr. Harper Snyder, 
of this Borough, we have secured all the deeds of 
the Denning homestead, since 1819. 

Prior to the time of being owned by Wm. Den- 
ning, it was first owned by Christian Kettering, 
who applied for a land patent from the State, 
and on November, 25, 1819, he sold it to Daniel 

Spidle. 

On May 25, 1821, Daniel Spidle and wife, re- 
ceived the Patent from the State for the tract, and 
on April 8, 1826, they sold it to William Denning, 
for the sum ol $100. James Denning was one of 



LIFE OF WILLIAM DENNING. 38 



the witnesses on the deed, and Wm. Richej^ was 
the Justice of the Peace. 

On February 24, 1827, William Denning sold 
the tract to Mary (Polly) Denning, for the sum of 
$100. 

On April 2, 1832, some two years after her 
father's death, she sold it to Robert Middleton for 
the sum of $80.00. 

On March 6, 1835, Michael Kolcomb, Sheriff 
of Cumberland County, sold the tract for $45.00, 
Andrew Middleton being the purchaser. 

On December 12, 1838. Andrew Middleton, 
sold it to John McFait, and on Oct. i, 1845, Mc- 
Fait, sold it to George Asper, for $150.00. 

In 1855, on Oct. 3, George Asper, sold it to 
John Getz, for $250.00, who in turn sold it to 
J. P. Leitzel for $300,00, on Oct. 14. 1869. 

J. P. Leitzel, sold it to Wm. H. Long, for $300. 
on November 24, 1870. He in turn sold it to J. 
Harper Sayder, for $1,000 on November i, 1884. 



Mrs. Charlotte Kinsley, living on East Main 
Sreet, this Borough, is a lady of 87 years, with a 
clear mind in reference to transactions of the past. 
She states that Poll}^ Denning came to church on 
Sunday mornings, and it was her usual habit of 
first coming to their house to change her shoes or 
arrange her clothing after a walk through the dust 
or mud. She remembers very distinctly of seeing 
William Denning, quite often as he came to town 



34 LIFE OF WILLIAM DENNING. 



with a staff in one hand and an umbrella in the 
other hand. In her younger years she states that 
her mother, accompanied by Mrs. Miller, whose 
maiden name Iwas *Furgeson, went to William 
Denning's and returned with a lot of sweet cher- 
ries, the first she had ever seen. 

Her remembrance of James was, that he was 
given to dissipation, which was the chief cause 
of his sudden death. He had a great talent for 
composing poetry. He was known by every- 
body as Jimmy Denning, the poet. 

Mr. John Snoke, of Green Spring, said the 
Denning blacksmith shop stood on the north side 
of the State Road, from the Bull's Head Hotel, at 
the cross roads. This same gentleman has a pair 
ot lire tongues and shovel, made by William Den- 
ning. They were purchased at the sale of grand- 
mother Asper's, personal property. William Boyd 
at one time a resident of Newville, now dec'd, 
told Mr. Snoke, how William Denning experi-' 
mented before he made his first cannon. He first 
took a short piece of a tree, and instructed five 
men who were to wield the sledge. They prac- 
ticed striking until he felt confident they would 
strike in regular order, and when the heat was 
ready, the rive men plied the heavy sledge in rap- 
id succession as they had been instructed. This 
story comes from a reliable source. 

*This Mrs. Miller, was a sister of the William Furgeson. 
who constructed the carriages for Denning's cannon. See 
history later on in this work. 



LIFE OF WILLIAM DENNING. 35 



We have now given a short history of the Den- 
ning family. Although very much disjointed, we 
only learned many of the incidents when the work 
was too far advanced to make the desired connec- 
tion. And while we have gone thus far, it will 
perhaps be interesting to speak of a fact, not gen- 
erally known by many of our people. 

Within one hundred feet east of the Denning 
monument, is the grave of 

WILLIAM FURGESON, 
whose life was closely connected with that of his 
friend William Denning. He too, lived in the 
Revolutionary days, and was perhaps as patriotic 
as any man who then lived. To this individual is 
given the honor of constructing the 
CARRIAGES FOR DENNING'S CANNON, 

He lived at that time, a short distance below 
Mt. Rock, where he worked at the manufacture 
of wagons &c. To him, William Denning ap- 
plied for help in the construction of carriages for 
his cannon, and in his shop, he furnished the re- 
quired wood work tor the purpose above describ- 
ed. 

His grave is marked with a common marble 
headstone, which bears the following inscription : 
William Furgeson, 
Who departed this life, 

April, 23, 1834, 
Aged about 76 years. 

Contractor Shull, had his men clean off the 



36 LIFE OF WILLIAM DENNING. 

soiled stone, and many persons viewed the in- 
scription the same day. This WilHam Furgeson, 
was the grandfather of John Harlan, on East 
Main Street. Some day, possibly, there will be a 
motion made to have a more artistic tablet placed 
as a marker to this grave. 

A number of soldiers are interred in this same 
Cemetery. An investigation shows the number to 
be forty-seven. Of these, twenty-eight were 
soldiers of the Rebellion, the remainder beirg of 
the Revolutionary War, and the war of 1812 and 
1814. 

Mr. Poulson was editor of Poulson's Daily Advertiser, in 
Philadelphia. The following letter was written by a citizen of 
Philadelphia, to the editor in January 1831, immediately after 
William Denning' s obituary appeared in the Daily Adver- 
tiser, of January 3. 1831, which was two weeks after Den- 
ning' s death. 

Mr. Poulson. 

Observing in the obituary notice of Wm. Denning, in 
your paper of the 3rd, that he made the only successful at- 
tempt ever made to manufacture wrought-iron cannon, I can 
inform you of at least another instance, it was that of Sam- 
uel Wheler, whose shop was in the vicinity of Christ Church, 
and who invented and munuf actured at that place, a wrought 
iron cannon, which was used with success by the Americans 
until captured by the British at the battle of Brandywine, 
and was by them placed in the tower of London. As that 
was the only wrought-iron cannon captured at the battle, 
probably the writer of the notice referred to above, has blend- 
ed that circumstance with some subsequent transactions of 
Wm. Denning. 
Jan. 1831. Citizen. 

It seems there is a difference of opinion in reference to the 
cannon said to be in the tower of London. Could it be possi- 
ble that the cannon captured at the battle of Brandywine, as 
stated in the letter to Mr. Poulson, was placed there, and if 
so, what would cause it to be removed. It is stated upon the 
best authority, that n o such cannon can be found in the Tow- 
er at the present time. 



LIFE OF WILLIAM DENNING. 37 

Several hundred feet south west of the Denning 
monument is a lot of ground fenced off, in which 
enclosure lie the remains of some of the Buchan- 
on family. One of these stones bears the name of 
Thomas Buchanon, a general in the Revolution- 
ary War, who died October 13, 1823, aged 76 
years. He was a member of the '^Society of the 
Cincinnati", to which none but officers of the Rev- 
olutionary War, could belong. This organiza- 
tion was similar to the G. A. R. of to-day. In 
the Shippensburg Cemetery, lie the remains of 
Polly Buchanon, aged 104 years and James Buch- 
anon, aged 96 years. Ihey belonged to the same 
lineage, and their tablets erected over their graves, 
bear the Scotch coat of arms, on which are two 
large Falcons. 

We are also indebted to Mr. Geo. L. Gussman, 
of this Borough, for his aid in gathering the facts 
herein stated, and for some of the sketches. This 
gentleman, it is claimed, was the 3'oungest sol- 
dier who served in the late Rebellion. 

The End. 



ERRATA. 

On page 7 in the last clause of the Battle of Prmceton, it is 
stated that the precise date cannot be ascertained when Den- 
ning left the army. If it is true that he entered the army at 
its earliest stage, and while it is known that he was discharg- 
ed at Carlisle, in 1783, after the treaty of peace was establish- 
ed, it is also evident that he was out of the army while en- 
gaged in the construction of cannon. That explains the state- 
ment, in reference to the time of leaving the army. 

The statement made on page 16, that he was born in 1736, 
should read 1737. 

The blacksmith demonstration referred to on page 32 as 
having occurred in the sixties, was of much later origin. The 
informant had reference to the Independent Club, or the Big 
Spring Literary Society, at which time Mr. Eckels made the 
first speech in favor of erecting a monument. 



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BORN 1737 -WEO 1830. 



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